“Air pollution in Quetta has increased to a dangerous level; time to act is now or never ” Secretary Environment, Balochistan

Wed, 22 Jul 2009

QUETTA, July 21: (IUCN) –The Clean air Quality Initiative of Quetta city held a meeting at the IUCN Quetta Office to discuss the threat posed by urban air pollution. The meeting was chaired by the Secretary Environment Munir Ahmed Badini, who urged for awareness raising measures for the residents of Quetta.

Emphasizing the need for urgency, he said air pollution had enormously increased up to levels that could prove fatal, and the time to do something was now or never.

Zabardast Khan Bangash, Manager Quetta Office of IUCN Pakistan said a working group should be formed to prepare a strategy to mobilize the community in Quetta city to create awareness of the hazardous impacts of air pollution.

He said Air Quality Monitoring was a new initiative taken for the very first time in Quetta City. This would be helpful in not only keeping a check on the ever increasing carbon emissions and air pollution of the city but will also contribute in reduction and control of hazardous gases.

Mohammad Aqibuddin, the Air Quality Monitoring expert from IUCN Pakistan detailed the first ever Air Quality Monitory initiative in Quetta and explained the main features of proposed co-benefits training. He said an international resource person accompanied by national experts will impart the training on clean air quality monitoring mechanism.

Secretary Environment discussed various constraints and barriers in the implementation process and termed it a big challenge, which could be overcome by all the stakeholders if they played their role honestly.
He thanked the committee members for their inputs and recommendations and applauded IUCN’s efforts in initiating and facilitation the process.

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